Hope as community battles to save another pub in Spalding

A 67-year-old Spalding woman is joining other locals in a fight to save the pub where she remembers celebrating the Queen’s Coronation as a child.

Time is running out for the Robin Hood in Bourne Road, which has been at the heart of the community for generations but is due to shut its doors on December 1.

The past few years has been tough for the pub industry, with 29 closing across the UK every week. Now the Robin Hood is the only pub in Bourne Road – the Plough having been sold and turned into flats.

Regulars at the Robin Hood feared for its future too after hearing it had been put up for sale by Enterpise Inns. However, they are submitting an application to South Holland District Council for Asset of Community Value (ACV) to stop it becoming anything other than a property benefiting them.

And now there is more hope after the Red Lion in Gedney Hill was granted ACV status. See page 3.

Save Our Pub (in Gedney Hill) campaigners have six months to come up with a plan for it to be bought from brewery Elgood & Sons Ltd by a “Relevant Community Interest Group” – a number of people who intend to use the property for the benefit of the local community. Developers who wanted to turn it into a house have pulled out of the sale.

Robin Hood customer Chris Underwood (67) said: “It’s great news. Our pub is the heart of our community and we we don’t want it to close. My parents used the pub and I went there to celebrate the Queen’s coronation.

“I’ve only been a customer there for 60-odd years. One old gentleman in his nineties cycles there every lunchtime to socialise with people – otherwise he would be on his own. There are several customers like that.

“But it isn’t just a pub for old people – young and old go there and socialise together and it is always busy.

“Everyone knows each other and helps each other out. I used to go in there after visiting my husband in hospital and everyone wanted to know how he was doing and how I was.

“It is really sad to think it might close.”

Enterprise Inns has put the Robin Hood on the market for £225,000.

A spokesman said: ”As part of our on-going business, we do from time to time identify a pub that may no longer have a long-term future in our estate.

“After careful consideration, the decision was made to sell the freehold of the Robin Hood and the pub is currently being openly marketed with no future restrictions on use.”

Coun Angela Newton has been helping customers submit their ACV application.

She said: “The pub has been the hub of my ward and is the last one in the area. I understand the landlord has done a lot to make it a warm and friendly place to go, attracting more people of all ages.

“It would be such a shame if it is sold but that doesn’t have to mean the council will allow change of use to residential. I have been happy to guide the community with their application but it is up to them now to take their fight to save the pub forward.”

Read also:

Appeal to save Gedney Hill pub
Do we have to lose another village pub?